In their regular meeting Monday, August 5, the Ringgold County board of supervisors accepted sheriff Rob Haley’s recommendation to name Nathan Nickle as chief deputy, but the recommendation came with a degree of controversy.
Board chair Kraig Pennington stated upfront during the discussion that the supervisors have no jurisdiction when it comes to department heads making appointments within their departments.
Pennington warned the small group in attendance that he would not allow mud slinging or discussion of matters of a personal nature in the course of the discussion.
Speaking in open session during the meeting, RCSO deputy Bo Greene contended Nickle was not as qualified as some other members of the department for the position of chief deputy.
“He can’t even apply for some of the jobs I’m qualified for,” Greene said.
Greene went on to say that the “fix was in” long ago to name Nickle chief deputy, stating the decision was just another example of the “good old boy” culture that continues to undermine the effectiveness the department.
No one else spoke against or in favor of the recommendation.
Mike Galloway, the county’s human resource attorney, was present at the meeting to oversee the discussion. He recommended the supervisors should state their acceptance of the appointment in the form of a motion.
Following the board’s unanimous decision to accept Nickel’s appointment, Pennington cautioned Haley, Greene and Nickle that the sheriff’s department “needs fixed.”
“We need to get that department together,” he said. “You need to be a strong, cohesive team.”
